moms of 2 or more, i need help

cbidt*sgirl

i just can not get into a rhythm with the 2 of them.  I really thought i would have it down by now.  My little one is 7 months and my older is 3.  I just can't get ds2 to nap - AT ALL and it makes it impossible to get a schedule going.  How do you do it?  Do you have a nap schedule?  How'd you get it to work?

DandelionMom

My youngest pretty much only napped in a sling.  When the baby finally fell asleep it was "quiet time" for the older kids. 

Zenya

If we had to go out we just did.  DD could nap in the wrap or in the car.  No real schedule.  We just go.  Some days we'd stay home if I felt like she needed a really good nap.  But when we did it seemed like she'd nap like crap anyway so we're better off just going.

 

Right now though she's napping and DS is watching Dora b/c he's tired. But that's kind of rare.

cbidt*sgirl

cjcouple:

I am in the same boat so I have no advice.  Just wanted to let you know - you are not alone. My 7 mo old is not even STTN yet :-(

 

STTN, what's that?  We're not doing that here either.  I was happy that I was only up & nursing twice last night!  I'm considering trying to get rid of that second feeding soon.  Thanks for letting me know i'm not alone.

Yodajo

When does DC2 wake up for the day?  At 7 months, DS2 was taking a nap about 1 1/2 hours after waking up in the am.  Maybe you are waiting too long to try for that first nap?  I would try to get that nap down first and then it will be easier to get them to both nap at the same time in the afternoon (if your first DC is still napping, that is).

cbidt*sgirl

Yodajo:

When does DC2 wake up for the day?  At 7 months, DS2 was taking a nap about 1 1/2 hours after waking up in the am.  Maybe you are waiting too long to try for that first nap?  I would try to get that nap down first and then it will be easier to get them to both nap at the same time in the afternoon (if your first DC is still napping, that is).

 

I was shooting for the up 2 hours, then nap thing I remember doing with ds1.  Generally DS 2 wakes around 7 and I aim for first nap by 9:00.  I think i have been delaying a bit this week because i just dread the whole process of trying to get him down only to have him scream and all the while i feel like a horrible mother for ignoring ds1.  Currently ds1 is having his "quiet time" and ds2 just starting crying in his crib again. ugh -

 

Yodajo

cbidt*sgirl:

Yodajo:

When does DC2 wake up for the day?  At 7 months, DS2 was taking a nap about 1 1/2 hours after waking up in the am.  Maybe you are waiting too long to try for that first nap?  I would try to get that nap down first and then it will be easier to get them to both nap at the same time in the afternoon (if your first DC is still napping, that is).

 

I was shooting for the up 2 hours, then nap thing I remember doing with ds1.  Generally DS 2 wakes around 7 and I aim for first nap by 9:00.  I think i have been delaying a bit this week because i just dread the whole process of trying to get him down only to have him scream and all the while i feel like a horrible mother for ignoring ds1.  Currently ds1 is having his "quiet time" and ds2 just starting crying in his crib again. ugh -

Maybe you can shoot for 8:30?  There were days DS2 didn't even make it an hour before he was showing signs he was ready for a nap. 

Its hard.  Just hang in there and it will work out. 

 

Kapalua

you know I'm feeling your pain.  I don't even care that ds doesn't nap...but the baby not sleeping is no bueno.

GrowingFamily

Here is our daily schedule that we have had for the last 8-9 months or so:

Our 14 month old DS gets up between 6:30-7am.  He goes down for a nap roughly 2 hours after he gets up.  He sleeps for 1 1/2- 2 hours. He goes down for his afternoon nap around 2pm, at which point our 6 year old DD has "quiet time" on my bed- she rests with the TV on.  I lay down with our (almost) 4 year old DD in her bed, until she falls alseep (I generally get a 20-30 minute cat nap at this point) & then I get up and do stuff while they are all sleeping/ resting.  Our 4 year old DD generally naps for about 1 1/2 hours, sometimes 2.  Our 14 month old DS goes to bed at 7pm.  Our 4 & 6 year old DDs, who share a room,  go to bed between 7:30-8pm.  They get up between 6-6:30am (DD#1 & DS#1 start school at 7:25am).

arual82

I am in exactly the same situation and going nuts.  DS2 takes his first nap at 9:30ish but will only sleep maybe 20 minutes.  Then getting him down for a second nap is so hard.  I just finally got him to sleep and DS1 is taking some quiet time but normally #2 will fight it until my DH gets home around 4:30 and he can usually get him to sleep.  So, basically I have no advice but you are definitely not alone!

lilpiglet

We are on a pretty good schedule I think.. here is how my day goes- keep in mind I work full time *boo* but I dont really have a choice, anyway my youngest DS (8months) is basically on a 1, 2, 3 hr schedule, he gets up and is up for an hour, maybe a little longer and then takes a nap, when he wakes up from that, he's up for 2 hours, maybe a little longer, then goes down for another nap, when he wakes up from that, he's up for 3 hours or so and then goes down for another nap.  My older DS (3) only takes one nap a day from 1:00- 3:00 sometimes till 4:00.  usually the only time they are both sleeping is during the 1-2 o'clock or 3-4 o'clock time frame.

I just kind of read DS #2's cues as far as if he was tired or hungry and that really helped to get him on a "schedule".  DS #2 is a pretty easy going baby though, total opposite from DS #1

reynah

My 3 year old stopped taking naps around 3.3 yrs old. He just one day stopped. He will take a nap maybe twice/ week if I'm lucky.

Your dc2 is 7 months so prob. still taking 2 naps day? I would just try and get my 3 year old to have some quite time during your 7 month olds 2nd nap of the day. That's what we did for a long time.

cbidt*sgirl

reynah:

My 3 year old stopped taking naps around 3.3 yrs old. He just one day stopped. He will take a nap maybe twice/ week if I'm lucky.

Your dc2 is 7 months so prob. still taking 2 naps day? I would just try and get my 3 year old to have some quite time during your 7 month olds 2nd nap of the day. That's what we did for a long time.

 

um yeah - that i could do. that's what i thought i'd be doing by now. my real problem is that my 7 month old is on the no naps per day schedule cuz i cant get him to go down for a nap.  he,  shall we say, protests, loudly!